The Yellow Ocean

Before them, at the entrance of the dungeon who was located at Seoul Forest, shimmered a glowing portal, as if carved from liquid silver. Beyond the threshold lay their target: the High C-Rank dungeon, infamous for its water monsters. The air was thick with tension, the soft hum of magic emanating from the portal itself.

Grido adjusted his glasses, his tamer's pouch securely fastened at his belt. As the appointed leader of the party, he spoke with a firm, no-nonsense tone.

"Since I've been appointed leader, I'll keep this brief and only share what you absolutely need to know. This dungeon is primarily inhabited by water-based monsters. The terrain is a small island surrounded by a vast ocean, which will limit our maneuvering space. Most of the fighting will fall to Victor and me. We need to proceed with caution. Despite being labeled 'High Level,' this dungeon is considered one of the easier C-Rank duncles to clear because the monsters typically can't reach the island. Stick to the plan, and we'll be fine."

Victor cleared his throat, his deep voice carrying a careless confidence as he slung his massive broadsword over his shoulder. "Got it. Let's go."

Anna nodded solemnly, her twin daggers clenched tightly in her hands. Her blue hair fluttered in the wind, her excitement hardening into unwavering determination.

Akira stood slightly apart, his dark eyes scanning the group. Behind his calm exterior, his mind raced. "If the monsters here are water-based, why this team composition? A beast tamer, a close-combat specialist, and a dagger-wielder—no mages, no ranged specialists. Either they're underestimating this dungeon, or there's something they're not telling me. Let's see how this plays out."

In an instant, the group stepped through the portal, and the world around them shifted. They found themselves on a super small island, the sandy ground coarse and oddly warm. The ocean surrounding them stretched to the horizon, its waters an unnatural yellow, glowing faintly under the dim sunlight.

Victor knelt, running his fingers through the sand, his expression troubled as he saw the vast ocean. "This isn't right... the water color wasn't in the report."

"I know," Grido muttered, adjusting his glasses as he peered at the eerie ocean. "Be prepared. I don't think the color is a big deal, but still..."

Anna edged closer to Akira, her daggers at the ready as she scanned the trees and water. In a low voice, she asked, "Do you think the water's color affects the kind of monsters we'll face? Maybe it's a sign of mutation or contamination. Something's off here."

Akira gave a slight nod, his gaze fixed on the glowing ocean. "Maybe."

Grido turned to face the group, his voice steady. "Whatever it is, keep formation. Stay on the edge of the island, and don't go into the water unless absolutely necessary."

Victor smirked, his tone brimming with confidence. "Relax, Grido. Whatever's out there, we'll handle it. These things are just fish with teeth. How bad can they be?"

Akira remained silent, his eyes locked on the water. Something about its unnatural glow unsettled him, a faint warning humming at the edge of his mind. "This isn't right. The reports didn't mention anything about glowing water or mutations. What else did they get wrong?"

Suddenly, a soft splashing sound broke the silence. At first, it was distant and barely noticeable, but it grew louder with each passing second. Grido's head snapped toward the noise."Everyone, get ready," Grido commanded.

Victor drew one of his smaller blades, his muscles tensing. Anna crouched slightly, her daggers raised defensively, her eyes fixed on the waterline. "Stay calm," she told herself. "Watch for patterns. These things might be fast, but they're predictable. Right?"

Akira's dark eyes narrowed, his senses sharpening as he focused on the source of the sound."Whatever's coming, it's not just one. I can sense it."

The yellow ocean churned unnaturally, its waves twisting as if alive. From the putrid surf, something began to rise—an abomination bathed in the pale, golden light of the sun. Its limbs were long and spindly, tipped with razor-sharp talons. Glowing yellow eyes burned with malevolence, and its twisted, gnarled face contorted into a snarl of hunger. A thick, muscular tail lashed behind it, water dripping from its scaled body. Jagged teeth gleamed in the light, and the webbing between its fingers gave it an ogre-like resemblance to a mer-creature, though this was no ordinary denizen of the sea.

Grido's voice cut through the tension, calm but edged with concern. "It's an Aqua Genea... but it's different from the report and the ones I have faced before. Still, as long as we stay on the island, their attacks shouldn't reach us. Remember, to clear this dungeon, we need to kill them."

Akira's eyes never left the creature. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. As the Aqua Genea let out a gut-wrenching growl, Akira muttered "Let's see what the System says" then he activated his System, scanning the beast in an instant. A cascade of data flooded his vision.

Ding!

[Scanning 87% providable complete.]

[Name: Werehyena, Aqua Variant Genea]

[Type: Beast-Water (Mutated)]

[Weakness: Lightning-based attacks can momentarily disrupt its movements.]

[Abilities:]

[Aquatic Rend: Creates razor-sharp water claws for melee combat.]

[Hydro Spear: Long-range water-based attack capable of piercing steel.]

[Oceanic Veil: A water shield that reduces incoming damage.]

Akira's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Scanning 87% complete? That wasn't shown before in the System. Why did it change this time?" His thoughts raced, but the System still provided enough detail to work with. His gaze sharpened as he read through the abilities. "Huh? His mind zeroed in on the critical detail long-range water-based attacks. This wasn't just a minor deviation from the reports—this was a game-changer. The team's entire strategy was built on the assumption that the monsters couldn't reach them on land. But now...

"This one's mutated," Akira snapped, his voice urgent. "It can attack from a distance!"

Victor raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering slightly. "Tch, and where did you get that info? Your gut?"

Grido cut him off, his tone skeptical but cautious. "Boy what are you even saying? The data we have—"

Before Grido could finish, the Aqua Genea raised its clawed hand. Swirls of unnatural water formed two glowing spheres in the air, their ominous energy faintly visible. Akira's instincts kicked in instantly.

"DODGE!" he shouted, his voice commanding and urgent.

The spheres of water transformed into sleek, high-pressure projectiles, hissing through the air like arrows. One was aimed directly at Grido's chest.

Time seemed to slow.

Akira moved instinctively, his muscles coiling as he launched himself at Grido. In one swift motion, he tackled the beast tamer to the ground just as the water projectile struck the spot where Grido had been standing. Sand and debris exploded into the air, the force of the impact carving a deep gouge into the island's surface.

Victor stumbled back, his confident grin replaced by stunned disbelief. "What the hell?! Since when do these things attack like that?!"

Grido lay on the ground, his glasses askew, his hand clutching his chest where the projectile had nearly struck him. His breath came in short, panicked gasps as he stared at the crater in the sand. "That... that would've killed me," he whispered, his voice trembling. He scrambled to his feet, his usual composure shattered. "... you were right. Thank you."

Akira, still crouched and tense, shot Grido a piercing look. "This one's a mutant. Stop relying on outdated reports and pay attention to what's right in front of you."

Victor tightened his grip on his weapon, a low growl escaping his lips. "Alright, then. If these bastards want to play dirty, we'll show them how real fighters handle things."

The Aqua Genea roared, its voice echoing across the sinister surf. From the yellow sea, more forms began to rise—glowing yellow eyes and jagged teeth marking them as kin to the first.

Anna dropped into a defensive crouch, her voice soft but steady. "Seems it's not alone." She glanced at Akira, her eyes narrowing as she processed the situation. "If they can attack from range, we're sitting ducks here. We need to find cover or change tactics fast."

Victor counted them aloud, his voice rising in frustration. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... damn it! We're screwed, aren't we?"

The group braced themselves as the mutated creatures advanced, the glowing yellow ocean churning with menace. The battle was just beginning, and the odds were far worse than they had anticipated.

Akira's mind raced. "Nine of them, all mutated, all capable of ranged attacks. This isn't just a miscalculation—it's something else."His instincts screamed that there was more to this situation than met the eye. "Whatever the reason, I should do what I do best: kill."